Overcap applying machine



Sept. 3, 1946.

A. E. ALMGREN OVERCAPl APPLYING- MACHINE 1o sheets-sheet 41 Filed March19, 1942 INVENTOR t BY ATTORNEYS MHH Sept. 3, 1946. A. E. ALMGRx-:N2,406,734

ovERcAP APPLYING MACHINE l Filed March 19, 1942-' 1o sheets-sheet 2 /7/9 rfi 4 T` INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 3, -1945 l A. E. ALMGRENY 2,406,784

OVERCAP APPLYING MACHINE ATTORNEYS ASept 3, 1946. A. E. ALMGREN2,406,784

n OVERCAP APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1942 l0 Shelets-Sheet l5Sept. 3,1946. A. E. ALMGRE'N OVERCAP APPLYING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed March 19, 1942 Sept. 3, 1946.` A. E. ALMGREN 2,406,784

OVERGAP APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1942 1o sheets-sheet 7 Sept. 3,1946.

A. E. ALMGREN OVERGAP APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1942 10'Sheets-Sheet 8 Sept. 3, 1946.v A. E. ALMGREN y OVERCAP APPLYING MACHINE1o sheets-sheet' e Filedl March 19, 1942 i 266 Zai Zfi ff? 'ZailPatented Sept. 3, 1946 lUNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE l n 2,406,784 Y,oviinonr APPLYING August E. Mmmm-Hillside, N. YassignmltoAmericaiLCanQOmpany, `New York, N. Y., a corporation of New lJerseyApplication March 19, 1942, seriafNo. 433,394

s claims. (ci. 164-48?) The 'present yinventicin relates to a machine`v"for applying over-caps to containers and the like and has particularreference to 'cttingof a prti of a web of overca-'p material to producean over- Icanto placing the, severed overcap in position on a container,and to securing the -o'vercap in place while 'the containers are movi-ngthrough the machine in a continuous procession.v

In the -manu-facture of fibre containers of the character nshown inUnited States Patent 2,085,- 979, issued July 6,' 1937, to lJohn yM.-HothersalL and 1i articularly used for milk, the container after beingrfilled and sealed is protected prefrably by an oveifc'ap 'of-cellulo's'ic material such as Cellophane r the like which is crimpedi-'n `place over the top end yof the container.

The instant invention Aconteinpla'tes an fimproved machine which cuts'the material for 'such an o'vercap from 'a substantially continuous*strip and secures `the overc'ap in place on the container by crimpingit tightly 'over the edges of lthe container while applying heat to thecrimped edges of the overcap.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision of an improvedovercapping machine wherein the material for the overcap is severed froma substantially Vcontinuous trip of material, tlie cut-'off overcap istransferred to a position on top 'of 4a'cont'ain'er to be protected,'and then is sealed permanently in "place aio'und its edges by applyingheat and pressure thereto thus protectin'g the surface it covers againstcontamination.

Numerous other objects and advantages -of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin 'connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof. n

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan Vviewrof a machine embodying 'the instantinvention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View ef the upper por'- tion of a container andanv overcap :to be applied thereto in the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 3 3in Fig. `1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 Vis a transverse section taken rsubstantially along the brokenline #4 in Fig. 3, with parts broken away;

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially alongthe broken line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a 'horizontal section taken substan- 2 tially` along the line5?-6 in 3, with parts broken away;

Figs. '7' and 8 are enlarged detail views `of a portion .of the machineshown in Fig. 6, the views showing tla movable parts and 'a containerIin different positions, with parts broken away;

Fig. 9 is la View similar to Fig. 6 and showing the .movable parts in a`different position;

Fig. 10 is aver-tical vsection taken substantially along the lineIBI-|10 'in Fig. l5, with parts broken away; y

Fig.. 111 is a 'horizontal section 'taken substantially along the llinevrI I+II in Fig. 3.;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken substantially along Athe linerie-:l2 lin Fig. 11, with parts broken Fig. 13 iis an :enlargedisectionof the upper portion of the machine and taken substantially along thev'broken :line |3-I3 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away; i Figs. ylll'and 15 are fragmentary elevational views of transfer fingers in themachine, 'as viewed "from a .plane indicated 'by the line I 4-I4 in.Fig. 1-3, with parts broken 'away and parts shown in section;

Figs. 16 fand 17 `are sectional details taken substantially V'along therespective lines `Iii-"-I and I'I-ll] in Fig'. '14;

Fig. 18 'is an enlarged .perspective View of a cutting element used -inthe machine;

Vlii'g. 19 is an enlarged View of a' clinching head used in the machine,with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 20 .is a 'sectional view taken substantially along the line 20-20in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is .-an enlarged detail View of a `lifter pad device used in theniachine with .a container in place, with parts Tof the device beingbroken back `and shown in section, with a portion 'of the containerbiken away; y

Fig. 22 is 'an enlarged, exploded perspective View showing `the transferEnger parts illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged top plan view of a cutting device' lused in themachine; and

Figs. 24 and25 are Vertical sections taken Ysubstantially along thelines 2li-24 and 25e-25 in Fig. v2'3.

a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustratea machine for appl-ying a Cellpl'ialn brother suitable material overcapA (Fig. 2) "to a square bre milk containei B .of the character disclosedin the abovem'e'ntioned -H'o'thersa'll patent. The top of such' acontainer is secured .in place by a suitable end seam which forms anoverhanging ledge C which surrounds the container and it is to thisledge that the overcap is secured in place. It should be understoodfurther that the entire container is provided with a coating of wax orparaffin and this coating when partially melted serves as a bondingagent for holding the overcap'in place on the container.

The containers B are advanced-through the machine in an upright positionin a continuous procession in which the individual containers arestopped momentarily at a sealing station where the overcaps are applied.The overcaps are cut from a continuous web or strip D (Fig. 4) ofovercap stock preferably fed from a supply roll E. A cut-off overcap ismoved into position over the top of a container to be sealed and s heldthere stationary while the container moves up to meet the overcap. Onthe upward travel of the container it picks up the overcap and carriesit up into a closing head F (Fig. 4) which secures the overcap i-nplace.

The positioned overcap is of suicient area to extend beyond the ledges Cof the container and these overhanging portions are folded down andinwardly around and against the bottom of the ledges by the closing headF. The closing head also presses the edges of the overcap tightly inplace while heating them to produce a permanent seal between the overoapand the wax on the container which binds the overcap to the containerand thus encloses the top end thereof.

The containersI B to be capped are introduced into the machine by way ofa continuously moving endless beit entrance conveyor 2l (Figs. 1 and 3).The conveyor extends outside the ma.- chine and is driven in anysuitable manner. In the machine the conveyor takes over an idler pulley22 (see also Fig. 4) which is mounted on a short shaft 23 carried in abearing bracket 24 formed as a part of a frame 25 which constitutes themain frame of the machine.

The conveyor 2l carries the entering containers along a straight linepath of travel between a pair of guide rails 25, 21 which are disposedone on each side of the conveyor. These guide rails are bolted to themachine frame 25. Adjacent the inner end of the conveyor the innermostcontainer in the entering line is stopped temporarily against furtherforward travel by a stop block 3l (Fig. 6) which is bolted to the mainframe 25. This temporary pause in the advancement of the container iseffected so that it can be brought into time with the other moving partsof the machine.

While the innermost container is in this arrested position it is shiftedsidewise from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in dotted linesin Fig. 9. This shifting of the container is performed by a transfer arm35 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) formed with a push plate 35 (see also Figs. 5

and 9) which engages against a side of the container. The transfer armis mounted on a vertical rock shaft 31 carried in a bearing 38 (see alsoFig. 4) formed in the main frame 25. The lower end of the shaft carriesa bell crank 39 having on one leg a cam roller 4I (see also Fig. 11)which operates against an edge cam 42. A spring 44 holds the rolleragainst the cam. One end of the spring is connected to the second leg ofthe bell crank 39 while the opposite end of the spring is secured to themachine frame 25.

The cam 42 is formed integrally with a bevel gear 46 (Figs. 3, 4 and 12)mounted on a verti-A cal crank shaft 41 carried in a long bearing 48formed on the main frame 25. The bevel gear 45 meshes with and is drivenby a bevel gear 49 mounted on a continuously rotating main drive shafti) which is journaled in bearings 5l formed in the machine frame 25. Thedrive shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner.

Hence rotation of the drive shaft 55 rocks the cam arm 39 wand this,through the vertical shaft 31, rocks'the transfer arm 35 at the propertime 'to shift the container B. The transfer arm Ypushes the containerinto engagement with an offset guide rail 52 (Fig. 6) and since thecontainer is still partially on the conveyor 2l, the arm temporarilyholds it in this shifted position under slight pressure to preventpremature longitudinal movement of the container. The guide rail 52 isformed as a part of the guide rail 21.

Provision is maden for stopping the feeding of containers through themachine when there are insufficient containers entering by way of theentrance belt 2l. This is brought about by a hook latch 53 (Figs. 6, 'land 8) which is mounted on a pivot stud 54 secured in the main frame 25.The latch is backed up by a spring 55 located in a boss 55 formed on themain frame. The inner end of the latch extends into the path of travelof the containers as they approach th'e stop lug 3i.

The latch spring 55 presses the hook latch 53 against the adjacent edgeof the container push plate 35 and the hook portion of the latch thusnormally holds the plate from movement against the incoming containersas shown in Fig. 8. It is this holding action that prevents feeding ofthe containers through the machine.

When the line of incoming containers is suiicient, such as shown in Fig.6, there is enough pressure on the innermost container in the line toform the latch 53 back as far as the stop lug 3l and this releases thehook portion of the latch from the push plate and thus permits the plateto function. Normally there are sufficient containers passing into themachine to keep the push plate in a released condition so that therewill be no interruption in the operation of the machine.

Just as the transfer arm 35 begins to move back through a return stroketo release a container shifted into position against the guide rail 52;the container is engaged by a timing finger 51 (Figs. 3 and 6') and isadvanced one step longitudinally of the machine. The timing finger 51 isformed on a stroke bar 53 which is disposed adjacent the path of travelof the containers. One end of the stroke bar is pivoted on a rocker arm59 mounted on a pivot pin Si) secured in a bracket 5| (see also Figs. 5and 10) fastened to a gear housing 32 bolted to the machine frame 25.

The opposite end of the stroke bar 58 is connected pivotally to a crank63 mounted on the upper end of the vertical drive or crank shaft 41 (seeFig. 4). By reason of this connection with the drive shaft (i1, thestroke bar 58 is reciprocated through a forward or feeding stroke, asshown in Fig. 9, and thence through a return stroke, as shown in Fig. 6.

Gn the feeding stroke of the stroke bar 58, the timing finger 51 pushesthe shifted container B longitudinally of the machine one step in timewith the other moving parts of the machine and places it in position ona lifter pad 65 (Figs. 3, 6 and 2l). Guide rails 65 formed on the padhold the container against displacement During this placing of thecontainer B on the lifter pad 5, a stop or gauge inger 11| (Figs. 6 and10) is interposed temporarily in the path of travel ofthe Icontainer tobring the latter 'to rest in a predeterminedglocation on the `ipad. Thestop .iinger v1I is mounted on .a short :shaft 'I2 which is carried inbearing brackets 13 on vthe main frame .25. The .shaft also .carries acam lever 'I4 (Fig. V1(3) .having a cam roller 15 which operates against.an edge cam lImountedonfthe main drive shaft 5i) (Fig. 3). .It is thiscam 'that shiftsithe stopnger 'II .nt'oand 'out of container gaugingposition intime with the movement 'of the containers through :themachine. The A@roller is maintained .in engagement with the cam .by aspring vbarrel 'I1 (Figs. 10 and .1:1) which'presses against the :ca-rnleverv 1i. The spring 4barrel 'is located ina .lug I8 sfo'rmedzon themachine lmain frame 25.

After a ycontainer :is .located properly fon Vthe lifter pad 65 andWhile the timing nger 51 is moving Vloack through 'a return stroke, theIcontainer is lifted lto .an elevated position to receive itsovercap. A.lFor this purpose the lifter pad is .formed on a long depending .sleeve19 (Figs. 3 ,and .21) which contains a compression spring SQ and whichyextends down `into .a long stem `8`|. The spring provides .a cushion.for the rcontainer to prevent its being crushed when "it is lifted Vupinto a clinching head, Ias will be hereinafter explained. .The steinextendsdown through a slide bearing 82 :in thelmachinemainframe 25.

Thellowerend of the lifter stem 8| is connected pivotally lto ahorizontal cam lever 83, Figs. 4 and 10, mounted on .a pivot shaft 814carried in a bearing block 85 secured'to the main frame 25. The camlever 83 extends adjacent the edge cam 116 and carries a cam roller 8'6which operates in a cam groove 81 'formed in a `face of the edge cam. Its this cam :groove that raises and lowers the lifter pad .65 and acontainer B located 'thereongin .time with the other moving parts of themachine.

While a container B is being raised into a position to receive anvoveroap A, the `ove'rcap is severed from the .supply roll E and shiftedinto vertical alignment with .the rising lcontainer, as hereinbeforementioned. VThe supply roll E of overcap stock is retained on a reel (9|(Fig. 4) supported `Ona shaft '.92 (seealso Fig. 1) carried infbearingvbrackets .S3 formed 'on a super-structure or upper frame e4 of the mainframe 25.

The 'web D of Yove'rcap material `as it comes from the supplylroll E.,kpasses-over an idler pulley $35 which is mounted 'on .arms 1Si! carriedon the roll shaft 32. From the idler roller 95, fthe web passes under a.fianged guide roller 96 (Figs. 4, 23 and 25) mounted 'on a shaft 91carried in bearings 98 in a 'cut-off Vbracket 99 secured to the machineframe 25. The leading end of vthe web D is .held tightly between a'stationary anvil pad I!!! and a superimposed pressure plate IIO`2.

The pressure plate m2 isloosely suspended from a stud A|03 (see Fig. 24)which extends up through a bore IM in a boss |05 on the cut-off bracket99. The head of the stud rests Aupon a compression spring I 06 'whichsurrounds the stud and which is located in an enlarged shouldered borre|91 in the vboss |115. K

The pressure plate |02 also is maintained under pressure of a pair ofvertical spring barrels III which bear down on top of the plate. Thespring barrels are located in sockets I I2 Yformed in a yoke IIS whichconnects a pair of arms H4. These arms IM vare mounted .on a .pivotshaft formed 4in the out .off bracket 99..

Theiinner endsoftthe arms Ilditerminate adjacent'the innervends o'f the.anvil IIII vand the .pressure plate 132., :and .carry ya serrated outoff knife III8 '(-see `also Fig. 18) which functions in severing anovercap A from the stripD. The opposite ends of the arms are 'tiedtogether by a bridge ||9 and one of the arms is lformed with a .leverextension |2I. vThe lever extension Sis connected bya link v|22 (Figs."4,6, 1'1 and 12) to a camarm |23 mounted on'a pivot shaft I 24 carriedin bearing brackets |25 .formed lin 'the machine frame 25. The inner endAof the cam arm |23 carries a cam .roller |26 (Figs-3 and 1.1) whichoperates against an .edge cam |21 mounted on "the main drive shaft 55.The roller is held against the cam by a tension spring '|25 (Fig. 12)which is connected between the cam arm and fa .bracket Y|25 whichextends Yinwardly from the machine frame 25.

Adjacent .the cut-oli knife 'I 'i8 and spaced inwardly thereof is `acooperating auxiliary fout-ofi knife |31 which is merely a support edge4for the web being cut. The auxiliary cut-oit knife is disposed .belowthey path of travel ofthe web D and kis secured to the inner end of anauxiliary out-off lever |32. This lever is `mounted on the pivot shaftII5 and is connected by a 'link |33 to a cam lever |34. The cam lever ismounted 'on the pivot shaft v52e. The Iinner end of the cam lever |34carries a fcarn roller 438 (Fig. 3) which operates in 1a cani groove |35of 'a face cam 'MI mounted on `the main drive shaft 5B.

Thus as the 'main drive shaft '55 rotates, the the cams |21, MI sli-iftthe'links 422, "|33 and thus operate the out-off levers IIA, |32 inscissor fashion in time with the yother moving parts of the machine.This -cuts oit an overcap from the web E. 'When 4the cut-off levers arein anopen position, as shown 'in Fig.4, the spring barrels I I I in thelevers IM relieve pressure onthe pressure plate "to2 vand thus Vpermitthe spring V|26 to raise the plate o'ff the web D. While the vpressurethus is relieved from the web, the latter is 'drawn forward a distancesufli'cient to Ameasure. and expose enough material to produce an'overcap A.

After this predetermined quantity ofthe Web D has been measured off, theAcut-oh levers begin to-close or come together lfor the severingoperation. lDuring this movement of the cut-off levers the springbarrels III 'move ldow-n against the pressure plate vIll-2 and thusAforce the latter Adown against the vv'ebD. This clamps thelatt'eragainst the anvil lol and hence holds 'the web from movement. As Athecuit-ofi 'levers `continue toolose, the auxiliary knife |31 comes 'up'against thefbottom of the 'web to support it ywhile the serrated knife|'I8 comes down against the top of the web 'first to :pierce :and 'thento Ysever the .o'vercap from the web.

In order to prevent the roll of overcap material from :rotating justafter a length o'f the web AD is measured off, an automatic brake deviceis providedon the reel '9 I. This-device includes a brake drum |212(Figs. 1 andi) which is mounted on the reel shaft 92 adjacent the reel.This-drum carries-a'rilobon brake 'band V|43 which operates over a pinIM carried in a boss |45 secured to a cover |45 for the reel 9i. This-end of the band is secured to a long adjustable stud I 41 which iscarried loosely in 'the'bo'ss |45. A nut |49 on vthe outerend of thestud is provided for adjusting the brake band. v 'Theopposite :end ofthe brakeband |548 .is secured in a swing lever |50 mounted on a pivotpin |51 carried in a boss formed on the reel arm 93. The lever ismaintained under action of a tension spring |52 which is stretchedbetween the outer end of the lever and the reel cover |45. This keepsthe brake band taut around the brake drum |42. The outer end of thelever also is formed with a button |53 which is located close but inspaced relation to one of the reel arms 90.

Hence when the web D of overcap material is pulled to measure 01T alength for an overcap. the web draws the reel levers 9|! downwardly andthis brings Ithe lever on one side into engagement with the button |53on the adjacent brake lever |58, This moves the brake lever inwardly.This movement of the brake lever releases the pressure on the brake bandand thus frees the brake drum to permit the reel 9| to rotate.

When the pull on the web D ceases, the reel levers 98 shift back intooriginal position under the action of a pair of springs |54 which arelocated one on each side of the reel and which are .stretched betweenthe levers and the reel cover IAS. The engaged lever thus moves awayfrom the button on the brake lever |50 and thereby permits the spring|52 to draw the brake band taut around the drum. This brings the reel 9|to rest and holds it against rotation until the web D is pulled again tomeasure off another overcap.

When no containers are passing through the machine, as when the pusherplate 36 is held inoperative, the knife lever IM and the pressure plateI |12 are held inoperative. This prevents feeding of the web D and alsoprevents an overcap from being cut off. This is brought about by a stoppin |55 (Figs. 4, 10, 1l and 12) having one end disposed adjacent thepath of travel of a lug extension |58 on the knife operating cam arm|23. The stop pin |55 is carried in a bracket |51 formed on the mainframe 25. The opposite end of the stop pin is connected by a link |58 toa short arm |59 formed as a part of the lever 39 mounted on thecontainer pusher plate actuating rock shaft 31.

Hence every time the pusher plate actuating shaft 31 is rocked by theedge cam 42 to feed containers into the machine, the short arm |58pushes the stop pin |55 into the path of travel of the lug extension |56on the knife cam arm |23. This occurs in time with the movement of theknife cam arm and while the arm is at rest just prior to making acut-off stroke. Normal- 1y the pin is again withdrawn before the cut-offstroke is performed.

However, when the pusher plate 36 Vis stopped from feeding containersinto the machine, the rocker shaft 31 is held stationary with the stoppin |55 in an extended position. Hence when the knife cam arm |23 isabout to operate through its next stroke it is stopped by the lugextension |55 striking against the extended stop pin. This prevents thearm from making its stroke and thus prevents operation of the knife ||8and movement of the anvil pressure plate |02. It is this action, inconnection with other elements yet to be described, that preventsfeeding of the web D until .containers are again brought into themachine.

The measuring off of the overcap by drawing the web forward is effectedby a pair of upper and a pair of lower gripper fingers |65, |66 (Figs.3, 14, 15 and 22,). One upper and one lower finger are located on eachside of the path of travel of the web D. The fingers on each side arecarried on a swing arm |61 (see also Figs. 3 and 4). The two arms aremounted on a pivot sleeve, |68 (see Fig. 13) carried in bearings |89 inthe upper frame 94.

At the ltop, the' swing arms are tied together by a tie member |1| sothat they operate in unison. At the bottom, the lower end of each swingarm |51 is bifurcated and is formed with inwardly extending ears |15.(see Figs. 13, 16 and 22). These ears on each side form a support for apivot pin |151` (see also Figs. 17 and 22) of the associated lowergripper finger |66.

Each lower gripper finger |66 is formed as an integral part on the innerends of spaced and parallel lever arms |11. In the assembled positionthese two arms |11 are disposed inside of the ears |15. The ears form amounting for the pivot pin |15.

Each upper gripper finger |65 is formed as an integral part of a singlelever arm |8 I. This arm ts between the spaced arms |11 of the lowerngers. The inner end of each upper arm |8| is formed with a verticalslot |82 through which the pivot pin |18 extends. The outer end of eachupper arm carries a short hinge pin |83, the ends of which extend intohorizontally elongated slots |84 cut through the outer ends of the lowerparallel arms |11.

The outer end of each upper gripper finger arm |8| is formed with arectangular vertical shank |86 (see Figs. 14, 16 and 22) which isdisposed in a vertical slideway |81 formed in the swing arm |81 on thatside. The shank is retained against displacement by a cover plate |88which is secured to the swing arm.

Each shank |38 is formed with a vertical, elongated slot in which acompression spring 19| is dispo-sed. The upper end of the spring engagesagainst a pin |82 which is carried in the cover plate |88. This springnormally presses down on the upper finger arm |8| and maintains itsfingers |55, 1% in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 14.

Actuation or opening of the gripper fingers |65, |65 at the proper timeis effected by rods |95 (Figs. 3, 4 and 13) which are secured to theupper ends of the shanks |88 Rods |95 extend up through bearing blocks|56 on the outside of the swing arms |51. The upper ends of the rods arebifurcated and carry cam rollers |91 which operate on cam surfaces |88of a pair of internal edge cams |98. Each cam is mounted on the outerend of a rock shaft 28| which extends through the swing arm pivot sleeve|68.

One of the edge cams |99, the one at the right as viewed in Fig. 3, isformed as an integral part of a lever 2&4 which is connected by a link285 (Figs. l, 5 and 13) to a substantially vertical cam lever 285. Thecam lever is mounted on a pivot pin 251 carried in a boss 258 of theupper frame Se. The lever carries a cam roller 289 which operatesagainst an edge cam 2li mounted on a cam shaft 2212. A. tension spring 2i3 stretched between the lever and the upper frame 54 holds the camroller against the cam. The shaft is journaled in bearings 255 formed inthe machine upper frame 81|.

The cam shaft 2|2 is rotated continuously by a bevel gear 22| (Fig. 5)which is mounted on the outer end of the shaft. The gear meshes with andis driven by a bevel gear 222 which is mounted on the upper end of avertical tubular auxiliary drive shaft 223. The drive shaft is journaledin a bearing 224 in the upper frame 94 and in a bearing 225 (Figs. 3, 4and 6) in the lower frame 25.

The lower endof the driveshaft223 carries av spur gear 228% (see alsoFig. l1); which meshes with an idler gear 228 mounted on an idler shaft23 journaled in a bearing 232 formed on the machine main frame. gear 235which is mounted on the crank shaft 41 (Fig. 5) driven by the bevel gearconnection 45, 49 with the main drive shaft 50. l

Thus through this connection with the main drive shaft 56, the cam 22|rotates in time with the other moving parts of the machine and actuatesthe cam lever 236 and its link 205 to open and close the gripper fingers|65, |65 as hereinbefore explained. This opening and closing of thegripper fingers is also effected in time with the movement of the swingarms |61.

The swing arms |61 are shifted by way of a link 24| (Fig. 4) whichpivotally connects the swing arms with the lower end of a Cam lever 242(see also Fig. 5). The cam lever is mounted on a pivot pin 243 carriedin a boss 244 formed on the upper frame 94. Intermediate its ends thecam lever carries a. camV roller which operates in a cam groove 255 of'a face cam 246 mounted' on the camshaft 2l'2'. Y Y

The rotating cam 24S iirst shifts the swing arms ist outwardiyfmrougnanidle stroke into me posi'tion shown in 13.. lWhen first brought intothis position, the ,gripper fingers |65, I'o are open and arefdispiosedalong-side of' the anvil mi andr the, pressure plate |32.Thesepartshold'theleading end of the web D1. While iin this position ofthe swing arms, the gripper ngersA |55, |66 close, as hereinbeforeexplained, onto the outer edges of the: web Dwhi'ch project beyond theanvil HH and pressure plate |22. The web thus is held tightly by thefingersy and' it is at'this time that the pressurerplate` |212 is liftedto release the web.

Upon release of the web'D, the swing arms |615 movek back or inwardlywhile drawing the web withthem a distance equal' to?k the length of oneovercap.V This isfthe overcap: measuring operation mentioned above andwhen the web is draw-n out farenough the swingl arms pause i'n their,travelv This interruption ofr normal function` is effectedy bya stoppirr 251 (Figs. 1,4,.'5fand 13) which operates in conjunction with thestop pin F55 ofthe knife actuating lever |23- hereinbefore explained'.

The stop pin 25|= is located: adjacent the cam lever 206 and slides infa bearing bracket 252 se'- cured on the main frameA 25; Oneendf ofthe'pin is; connected by a link: 252 to,- an arm 2511 mounted on, theupper' end of; a Vertical' shaft. 255. VAdjacent. thea-rm 2541, theshaft,A is carried in a bearingY brackety 25%, which extends out' from'the main frame: 25. The: shaft extends down through the middle; of the,vtubular shaft 2:23 and at its lower endA carries ana-17111251 which isconnectedI by a link 258 tothe cam lever Hence as the cam', leverSerocks to actuate the The idlery gear 229, meshes with af of a rocklever Ziiisengaged.

pusher plate 35 tot position containersi-n-.the 70 ing: lever 2062' intime with. the movement, ofthe;y

lever.` When the pusher plate '3.5: is-stoppedfrom; 715

10 feeding containers into the machine, the vertical shaft 25.5 is heldstationary andV its stop pin 253|` is` in an extended position in thepath of travel of the finger actuating leverv 253. Thust the stop pinprevents actuating of the lever and this holds the gripper fingers |55,l 5t open so that they will not engage and withdraw the Vweb D, ashereinl before explained.

v After the overcap is severed from vthe web the swing arms te? resume,their backward swing and thus carry the cut-off overcap into a positiondirectly over the tcp of the container B which is being lifted by theylifter pad' 65. The gripper 1ingers |65, |65 holdv the overcap inthis-,position until it is picked upby the container. u

When the. topof the rising container B- engages against the suspendedovercapn, the latter is clamped down tight. on the; container before thegrippery fingers release it. Clamping of the ove-rcap. is brought aboutby a knock-out plunger 25| (Fig- 13); which-is. disposed in a clinchinghead 232I securedl tothe upper frame 92. The plunger. is carried on avertical stem 265 which extends up through a head rsleeveZ- carriedin aslide bearing 261 in thev head. YNear its top end, thepl-unger y stemisformedwith a socket253in which one end:

'I'he rock lever 259 is mountedv on a pivotpin 21| carried in lugsy 212formed in the( upperV frame S4. The. inner end of the rook lever en-vgages in a bifurcated end of a cam lever 215 mounted on a pivot pin214secured ina bearing block 2 15'bolted tofthe upper frame. Interme diateits ends the cam` lever carries a cam roller 2.11 which operatesI inafcam groove in a. face cam 218 mounted on the cam shaft 212. l f Thusas the cam 218. rotates, it rocks the cam llever 213 which in turnshifts the rock lever 269.

Under contro] of this cam, the rock lever moves the knockout plunger 26|down. against4 the overcap and the top of the; rising container to-holdthe overcap in place. Y As theV container conti-nues to rise into theclinching. head- 262, theI plunger rises with it and thus preventsdisplacement of the overcap.

As the container B`A with its superimposed overcap Aenters the clinchingheadY 262, the outer marginal edges' of the, ,overcap which project'beyond the outer edges of the container top engage against segmentalolinching jaws 285 (Fig. 13) which wipe` the edges of the overcap downadjacent the sides of the container.A Four such jawsr arey illustrated.These jawsare secured to the lowerends of vertically disposedv arms 265(see also Figs. 19 and 20) which are mountedon pivotr pins 281 carriedinA lugs 288 formed on the head 262.

. Adjacent thev lower ends, the head arms 283 areV formed withbeveledcam surfaces 29| which eng-age against cam rollers: 292 mountedon a disc- 293 in the headv 262.` The arms are.A held in engagement withthese cam rol-1ers bya coiled spring 291|` whichv encircles the. headoutside of and engaging against the arms.

. The disc: 293 is formed integrally with the head sleeve, 263. Theupper end of the head sleeve is secured by an adjusting screwv 29-1 to asliding bracket ill'which` is disposed: ina vertical slide,- way setoffA by cooperating gibs 352V (Fig. 3) bolted to. thev upper frame 94.

The sliding bracket 36| is shifted vertically toV actuate; thevclinching jaws 28.5'. For this purpose theV sliding bracket ispivotallyconnected to one end of a. pair of spaced and, parallel toggle links 305(Figs. 3, 13- and 19). whichat their opposite ends carry a pivot pin3|J6 on which is mounted a toggle arm 301 and one end of an actuatingrod The actuating rod 398 is connected to the upper end of a cam lever3|| mounted on a pivot pin 3|2 carried in brackets 313 formed in theupper frame 94. Intermediate its ends, the cam lever carries a camroller 3|4 which operates in a suitable groove in a face cam 3|5 (Fig.5).

Hence rotation of the cam 3|5 rocks the cam lever 3| I and-through thetoggle connection with the sliding bracket 30|, shifts the head sleeve266 through a downward or operating stroke and then upward through areturn stroke. On the down stroke, the sleeve depresses the disc 293 andthe cam rollers carried thereon and this permits the spring 294 to movethe jaw arms 286 inwardly. This movement of the jaw arms presses thejaws 285 inwardly against the wiped down edges of the overcap A and thusfolds the overcap edges up under the overhanging top ledges Cl of thecontainer. At the same time the head sleeve presses down slightly on theknockout plunger 26| andthus sets up a squeezing action between theplunger and the jaws to bond the folded-under edges of the overcap tothe container ledges. Y Y Y The jaws285 are heated, to facilitate thebonding ofthe overcap edges to the containerY ledges by partiallymelting the wax on the containerl This heating is effected by electricheating units 3|`| (Fig. 1'3) which are embedded in the jaws and whichmaybe connected to any suitable source of electric energy for heatingtheunits.

It is this folding and heating action on the overcap that permanentlyclin'ches it in place on then container.

After such a clinching operation, the jawsf235V are opened by anup-stroke of the head sleeve 266. This brings the cam rollers 292 on thehead sleeve disc 293 against the bevel cam surfaces ofthe jaw arms'2186and thus Vspreads apart thearins and the jaws carried thereon, under theresistance of the spring 294. y y

When the jaws 285 are fully open, the lifter pad 65 carries the sealedcontainer down to its original level in readiness for discharge from themachine. At this level the container is engaged bya discharge nger 32|(Figs. 3 and 6) of the stroke bar 58 and is pushed off the lifter pad 65onto a discharge belt 322. The belt operates over a pulley 323 mountedon a short pulley shaft 324 (see also Fig. 10,) carried in a bearing 325formed in the gear housing 62,. 1

The pulley 323 is rotated constantly by a bevel gear 321 which islocated inside the gear housing 62 and is mounted on the pulley shaft324. This gear meshes with and is driven by a bevel pinion 328 mountedon a vertical shaft 329, the upper'end of which is journaled in abearingV 33| formed in the bracket 6| secured to the top of the gearhousing. The lower end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing 332 formedin the bottom of the housing. This lower end of the shaft extends belowthe bearing and carries a bevel gear 3'33 which meshes with a drivingbevel pinion 334 mounted on the main drive shaft 5U. Through thisconnection the discharge belt is constantly operated to carry containersreceived thereon to any suitable place of deposit. A

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoingl description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form,

CII

construction and arrangement of the parts without Vdeparting from thespirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. In a machine for applying protective over caps to moving containers,said machine including an overcap applying head, a pair of swing armslocated adjacent said head and means for effecting relative movementbetween theV containers and said head for applying an overcap to a saidcontainer: the combination of gripper ngers mounted on said swing armsfor pulling a continuous web of overcap material to measure off apredetermined length of the web, cutting devices disposed adjacent thepath of travel of said web for severing the gripped measured-off portionof the web from the remainder of the web'to produce an individualovercap, and actuating means 'cooperatively associated with said swingarms, said actuating means operating to shift the arms to first 'measure'off the overcap and thereafter to locate the held cut-off overcap inposition between the container and the apply ing head.

2. In a machine for applying protective'overcaps tomoving containers,said machine including an overcap applying head and means for effectingrelative movement between the containers and said head for applying anovercap to a said container: the combination of a pair of swing armslocated adjacent said head, gripper ngers mounted on said swing arms forpulling a continuous web of overcapmaterial to measure off apredetermined length of the web, cutting devices disposed adjacent thepath of travel of said web for severing the held measured-off portion ofthe web from the remainder of the web to produce an overcap,actuating'means cooperatively associated with said swing arms, saidactuating means operating to shift the arms to first measure oil' theovercap and thereafter to locate the held cut-01T overcap in positionbetween the container and the applying head, means for operating saidgripper ngers independently of said swing arms to retain a grip on thecut-off overcap while the latter is cut off and carried to thecontainer, and means for actuating said gripper nger operating means toYrelease the severed and positioned overcap immediately prior to theapplying operation.

3. In a machine for applying protective over-V caps to containers, saidmachine including vfeeding devices for introducing containers into themachine in a continuous procession, means engageable with the containersas they enter the machine for separating them individually from theentering procession to arrange them in timed order, auxiliary feedingdevices for intermittently advancing the individual timed containersinto and beyond an overcap applying station, and an overcap applyinghead operatively disposed at said station the combination of means for:mov-Y ing an individual overcap into positionrbetween a said containerand said'applying head, said moving means including a pair of swing armslocated adjacent said head, gripper ngers mounted on said swing arms forpulling a c ontinuous web of overcap material to measurel olf apredetermined length of the web, cutting devices disposed adjacent thepath of travel of said web for severing the measured-olf portion of theweb from the remainder of the web to produce an overcap, and actuatingmeans for moving saidV swing arms relative to said head to properlylocate the overcap with respect' to the container preparatory to theapplying operation.

4. In a machine for applying protective overcaps to containers, thecombination of means for holding a web of overcap material, a pair ofswing arms pivotally mounted relative to said web holdingmeans, gripperfingers on said arms for gripping an end of thev web and for pulling theweb through said holding means, cutting devices pivotally mountedadjacentV said holding means for cutting the web to produce anv overcap,and actuating means for moving said swing arms in AUGUST E. ALMGREN.

